Need help to apply for Singapore citizenship?
Hawksford are renowned for supporting entrepreneurs and foreign companies and their employees establish their roots in Singapore.
As is with any other country, becoming a citizen of Singapore also has its pros and cons. The pros include holding a Singapore passport, which has visa-free or visa on arrival access to 189 countries and territories, and subsidies on education, healthcare, housing and employment. But there are cons to it too. Holding dual citizenship is not allowed in Singapore so you will need to renounce other citizenship that you may have if you choose to accept the Singapore one.
Only Singapore citizens (over 21 years of age) are eligible to buy and rent apartments from the Housing & Development Board (HDB). These include subsidised 2-room (i.e 1 bdrm + living room), 3-room (2 bdrm + 1 living room), 4-room (3 bdrm + living room), 5-room (4 bdrm + living room) and executive flats. Singapore citizens are also eligible to buy subsidised executive condos and studio apartments developed by the HDB.
Citizens can also enjoy the unique benefit of obtaining loans, at a concessionary interest rate, from the HDB to fund their housing. In addition, Singapore citizens who are first-time buyers of government-built flats can enjoy housing subsidies such as the housing grant. The CPF Housing Grant is a subsidy (up to SGD 40,000) provided by the Government to assist households who have met the eligibility criteria to buy a HDB flat.
Only a Singapore citizen is eligible to rent a subsidised flat from the HDB, upon satisfying eligibility criteria.
When HDB flats are being upgraded by the Government, Citizens pay only a fraction of the costs while Permanent Residents have to pay the full upgrading cost of items that they have opted for.
While citizens can buy any type of private residential property, Permanent Residents must first seek approval from the Ministry of Law if they want to buy landed property. Listed below is a brief overview of various features for each type of resident.
Citizens | PRs | Foreigners | |
---|---|---|---|
Purchase of subsidised new flats from HDB | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Purchase of resale HDB flats | Eligible | Eligible (Subject to HDB’s Eligibility schemes) | Not Eligible |
Rental of subsidised flats from HDB | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Rental of a room/flat from home owners | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Purchase of non-landed property- private apartments/condos | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Purchase of landed property – bungalows, terrace housing | Eligible | Eligible (Subject to approval from Ministry of law) | Not Eligible |
Rental of landed and non-landed property | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
CPF Housing Grant | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Main Upgrading Subsidy and concessionary interest rate for payment of upgrading cost | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Mortgage loans from HDB at a concessionary interest rate | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Mortgage loans from banks | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
The CPF is a compulsory social security savings plan for Citizens and Permanent Residents. Both employers and employees make monthly contributions of 17% and 20% respectively to the CPF which is divided into three accounts: Ordinary Account (the savings can be used to buy a home, pay for CPF insurance, investment and education), Special Account (for old age, contingency purposes and investment in retirement-related financial products) and Medisave Account (the savings can be used for hospitalization expenses and approved medical insurance).
The CPF contributions by the employer are non taxable and your share of the contribution can be used for tax relief purposes. Non-citizens and non-PR’s are not eligible for CPF. Any contributions by a foreigner is considered voluntary contribution and cannot be used for tax relief purposes.
For more information please visit Central Provident Fund.
Citizens | PRs | Foreign Students | |
---|---|---|---|
School Fees payable in SGD | |||
Government Schools (school fees per month) | |||
Primary level | Free | SGD 180 | SGS 440 - 700 |
Secondary Level | SGD 5 | SGD 320 | SGD 720 - 1,250 |
Pre-University level (Junior Colleges, Centralised Institute) | SGD 6 | SGD 400 | SGD 980 - 1,600 |
Others (school fees per annum) | |||
ITE | SGD 406 - 626 | SGD 5,023 - 7,833 | SGD 13,470 - 20,480 |
Polytechnics | SGD 2,800 | SGD 5,600 | SGD 10,000 |
Universities (NUS, NTU, SMU) | Depending on school and programme | ||
Subsidy/Schemes | |||
Edusave Scheme | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Citizens | PRs | Foreigners | |
---|---|---|---|
Public Healthcare Subsidies | |||
Public & Restructured Hospitals (% subsidised) | |||
Types of Ward Class | |||
Class B1 | 20% | 10% | Not Eligible |
Class B2 | 65% | 55% | Not Eligible |
Class C | 80% | 70% | Not Eligible |
Types of service | |||
Day Surgery | 65% | 55% | Not Eligible |
Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) | 50% | 40% | Not Eligible |
Polyclinics medical consultation charges in SGD – approximate figures | |||
Adult | 8-9 | 12-14 | Not Eligible |
Child/Elderly | 4-5 | 12-14 | Not Eligible |
Healthcare Financing Schemes | |||
Medisave | 6-8% of monthly wage | 6-8% of monthly wage | Not Eligible |
Medishield | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
Eldershield | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
Primary Care Partnership Scheme | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Medifund | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Only Singapore Citizens have the right to:
Citizens | PRs | Foreigners | |
---|---|---|---|
Right to vote in parliamentary elections | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Right to stand for election and become a MP | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
You are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave if your child is a Singapore Citizen. For the first two confinements, the first eight weeks of maternity leave will be employer-paid. The last eight weeks will be funded by the Government (capped at SGD 20,000 per confinement including CPF). For the third and subsequent confinements, the full 16 weeks will be funded by the Government (capped at SGD 40,000 per confinement including CPF). In case neither you nor your child is a Singapore citizen, the number of days of paid maternity leave will depend on your employment contract.
Parents of Singapore citizens, who have worked for the employer for at least three months, will be entitled to 6 days of paid childcare leave per year per parent until the child turns seven, regardless of the birth order of the child. The first three days will be employer-paid and the last three days Government-paid (capped at 500 SGD per day, including CPF). Regardless of the number of children, the total childcare leave entitlement for each parent is capped at 6 days per year. In case neither you nor your child is a Singapore citizen, the number of days of enhanced childcare leave will depend on your employment contract.
Parents of Singapore citizens, who have worked for the employer for at least three months, will be entitled to 6 days of unpaid infant care leave per year per parent until the child turns two, regardless of the birth order of the child. In case neither you nor your child is a Singapore citizen, the number of days of new infant care leave will depend on your employment contract.
If your child is a Singapore citizen then he/she is eligible for the Baby Bonus Scheme. The Baby Bonus Scheme is a government initiative that supports parents’ decision to have more children by helping to ease the financial burden of raising children. A cash gift of up to SGD 8,000 for the first and second child and up to SGD 10,000 for the third and fourth child is provided by the Government. In addition, your children will also enjoy Government contributions in the form of a dollar-to-dollar matching for the amount of savings you contribute to your child’s Children Development Account (CDA). The CDA is a special savings account for your children, until they turn 6 years of age. The Government contribution to the CDA for your first and second child is up to a cap of SGD 6000 and up to SGD 12000 for the third and fourth child.
This is a government initiative aimed at making centre-based child and infant care a more affordable option. Infant care subsidy up to SGD 600 a month is available to Singapore citizen’s infants aged 2-18 months, who are enrolled in licenced child care centres. Child care subsidy up to SGD 300 will be available to Singapore citizen’s children below 7 years of age attending licenced child care centres.
PTR is a lump sum rebate given to married Singapore tax residents to encourage them to have more Singapore Citizen children by providing them with financial support for bringing up their children. The PTR can also be used to offset their income tax payable. It is applicable to Singaporean children of Singapore tax residents. With effect, Year of Assessment 2009, PTR up to SGD 5000 for the first child, up to SGD 10,000 for the second child and up to SGD 20,000 for the third and every subsequent child can be claimed.
There are certain tax relief benefits that are exclusive to citizens. Enlisted below are 6 types of tax incentives for parenthood specifically, which are applicable only to citizens and do not extend to PR’s or foreigners.
PTR is a lump sum rebate given to married Singapore tax residents to encourage them to have more Singapore Citizen children. The PTR can also be used to offset their income tax payable. It is applicable to Singaporean children of Singapore tax residents. With effect, Year of Assessment 2009, PTR up to SGD 5000 for the first child, up to SGD 10,000 for the second child and up to SGD 20,000 for the third and every subsequent child can be claimed.
WMCR was introduced to reward families with children holding Singapore citizenship and to encourage parents to take up citizenship for their children. This relief can be claimed by a working mother who is a Singapore tax resident and whose children are Singapore citizens. There are other eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled as well. The amount of WMCR claimable for each child is based on a specified percentage of the working mother’s earned income corresponding to the child order – 15% of mother’s earned income for the first child, 20% for the second child, 25% for the third and every subsequent child thereafter. This is with effect Year of Assessment 2009.
This relief is given in recognition of families efforts in supporting their children and caring for handicapped children. On satisfying the QCR/HCR eligibility criteria and any additional set of criteria applicable to the child, relief to the tune of SGD 4000 and SGD 5500 can be claimed under QCR and HCR respectively.
GCR is a relief to provide recognition for grandparents who play the role of caregiver and help working mothers take care of their children. The children have to be Singapore citizens and the grand-parent should be living in Singapore. There are other eligibility criteria that need to be met as well. You can claim SGD 3000 as GCR.
Income tax rates are the same for citizens, PR’s and foreigners (if foreigners have resided in Singapore for 183 days or more in the previous year). However, all Central Provident Fund contributions by citizens and PR’s, including the employers contribution is non-taxable. In addition, the employee’s contribution can also be used for tax relief purposes. Foreigners do not enjoy tax relief for CPF.
The table below compares the tax relief available for Citizens, PR’s and Foreigners.
Citizens | PRs | Foreigners | |
---|---|---|---|
Tax incentives for parenthood | |||
Parenthood Tax Rebate | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Working Mother’s Child Relief | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Qualifying Child Relief | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Handicapped Child Relief | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Grandparent Caregiver Relief | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Others | |||
Tax Relief for CPF (Central Provident Fund) Contributions | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
Tax Relief for CPF Cash-Top Up | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible |
Male Singapore citizens are liable for National Service and must register for NS upon reaching 16.5 years of age. They will be enlisted for two years of full-time National Service immediately upon reaching the age of 18, unless deferment from enlistment a later date is granted. They are also required to serve 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service every year until the age of 50 years (for officers) or 40 years (for non-officers). Hence if you become a Singapore citizen your male child will have to serve the two-years of National Service. This is also applicable for second generation PRs.
Citizens | PRs | Foreigners | |
---|---|---|---|
National Service | Mandatory | Second generation male PRs | Not Eligible |
If you decide to become a Singapore citizen you will have to renounce citizenship of your home country and give up your home country passport. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship.
If you wish to withdraw all your CPF savings as a lump sum, the only option is to renounce your citizenship status. This rule holds for Permanent Residents as well.
On the whole, many people find it beneficial to become a Singapore Citizen and eventually make Singapore their home.
Hawksford are renowned for supporting entrepreneurs and foreign companies and their employees establish their roots in Singapore.
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